NewsWhip has launched a free iOS social news app which highlights stories based on how much they are being shared on Facebook and tweeted about across the world.

The app, which NewsWhip co-founder and chief executive Paul Quigley said "breaks the mould", offers a 'speed' measurement for every story, based on its movement on social media. Facebook and Twitter are monitored "to track which stories are spreading the fastest" he added.

Users can see worldwide news in the default tab, but can also view news by location or topic, such as news, gossip, technology or culture. As the screenshot below shows, there is also a fourth tab called "My Whips" which enables users to look back at their most read subjects and locations.

Quigley added that NewsWhip aimed to offer "something that breaks the mould" with the app, which was designed for iPhone but is also available on iPad. It does not personalise results based on the user's selections or social media contacts, Quigley told Journalism.co.uk, instead the content is always based on worldwide social media sharing.

An Android version is "in the pipeline", he said, as well as other languages.